Hearts for Newtown and other ways to give

by Dana on December 21, 2012

Are you looking for ways to give back to the Newtown, CT community? I’m amazed at how quickly giving hands can assemble.
Here are a few ideas floating around online:

• MAKE SNOWFLAKES! Many of you are already do this. Hooray! If you haven’t heard yet, the National PTA is going to create a Winterwonderland for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary when they return in January to their new school (more info HERE).
How fun, easy, and beautiful is that?Snowflakes need to be sent by 1/12 to the following address:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

• MAKE BLANKETS. A fellow blogger Michelle lost her brother years ago and neighbors reached out to her family by making each of her siblings a blanket to cuddle with and feel comfort. She still cherishes that blanket and would like to do something similar for Newtown. These blankets will not only be given to children at the school, but families throughout Newtown, CT. Quilts need to be flannel on both sides, 45 x 60 with 11 ounce batting and tied with yarn. They need to be done by January 10th.Read more about it HERE.

• OPERATION SANDY HOOK. The Small Fry Blog has teamed up with Brickyard Buffalo and several other artists and graphic designers to do a capsule collection of downloadable prints, all at $5 each. The profits will go to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund through United Way. Read more about it HERE.
• GIVE MONETARY DONATIONS directly to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. This is done through United Way and will help pay for support systems, counseling, etc for the whole community. Read more about it HERE.

• MAKE HEARTS OF LOVE. This is what we’ve chosen at our house and would love you to join us!
The hearts aren’t meant to replace the PTA snowflake project but to work along with it, since I’m sure they’ll have more snowflakes than they can hang. And when I think of giving, the image of hearts and love keeping coming to mind. So let’s fill their rooms with love!….sort of like sending Valentines.
The kids and I spent 20 minutes this morning cutting hearts from colorful paper. As we cut I very simply explained that we were sending hearts to a family who lost their little girl. Those were all the details I could spare. Lucy and Owen thought hearts were a good idea. Owen even said, “maybe they can hang them in her room so she feels loved.” It’s beautiful to watch their minds work.
If you’re feeling extra crafty, you could sew a few together so they can hang from the ceiling, or just send them as they are.Hearts need to be sent by 1/12 to the following address:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

If you know of any other projects and ways to give please leave info in the comments and I can add it to the list.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for sharing! I bought one of the prints from Small Fry. I will putting it in my kids bathroom, I will always remember to be grateful for them when I see it. I hope you have a wonderful holiday! Merry Christmas!

What a lovely idea! We made snowflakes the other day, and I told my kids we were helping to decorate a new school for kids that had something bad happen in their old school. That, for me too, was all I could handle to share. My 8 year old could probably handle more of a discussion, but I don’t want her to hear it if she doesn’t have to.

You made some rad snowflakes there, Dana. I think we’ll have to do round two to see if we can come up with cool ones like yours.

this is the best, dana! thanks for including the brickyard buffalo link in the list! that’s my little Let Them Be Little up there and i’m 100% humbled at the response we’ve all received from the effort.

That’s strange. I never see a popup survey and don’t ever recall seeing one. Maybe you ladies should scan your PC for Malware. That could possibly be causing the popups especially if you are seeing them on other sites as well. Also make sure your popup blocker is turned off.

Beautiful ideas. A co-worker’s son attends Sandy Hook, and she has had the entire company making snowflakes to send to them. There will be so many snowflakes hanging that the kids won’t see the school!

It’s great to see so many getting behind the helping, I’m from Australia, but am also joining in, today I’ve made two ragdolls, pinkfigdesign has asked fellow sewers to make ragdolls or sharks to send, she has emailed the PDF patterns and is asking to have them sent to her by 31st dec, or latest by 5 jan. I can’t tag the blog or link it for some reason but I’m sure some of you will know it, or just google it?!

Thank you for sharing all these links and being one of the “helpers” that Mr. Rogers talks about (the quote that’s been circulating throughout blogland). Looking forward to making some heart garlands with my girls!

Hi Dana!
I just commented on your instagram about the prints I’m making to try to help raise money to support the families in CT. The website the prints are on is http://www.etsy.com/shop/ayoungapril.
100% of the proceeds will be donated to Sandy Hook School Support Fund through United Way also.

We def. need help to get the word out so I would appreciate your help so so much!
Thank you
<3

What a great resource for all of the ideas that are floating around to help the Newton Community. I also heard about a mitten drive that includes mittens (store bought or homemade) that have a heart on one of the palms. It goes along with the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Here’s the link for an article about it: http://news.yahoo.com/crafters-send-mittens-message-newtown-175817171.html

I just read a press release from newtown. They are asking people to stop sending gifts and artwork. They are overwhelmed with the processing off all of the stuff for now. So maybe buying prints or just donating is the best thing for now.

The Happy Hippo Foundation gives children from “families in need” in Breda (town in south of Holland) a great birthday. Happy Hippo donates them a ‘birthday box”, filled with all kinds of things to make a great celebration. We want to add a lasting fabric garland for each family, to decorate the room for many birthdays to come.
We can use some help, we need at least 150 garlands!

I did this for a St. Valentine’s Day dance at my church – I used scrapbook papers and it turned out really cute. The pattern on the fabric added another element that people absolutely loved. I’d encourage everyone to try this. It was a fun and quick way to add some whimsy to their homes, businesses, classrooms or even a church basement for an event